Many college students face more than wondering if they can repay their loans. Scholarships through OFIC impact students in more ways than simply reducing tuition payments.

Austyn, Nord Family Scholar, Senior at Baldwin Wallace University

My name is Austyn and I’m from Lorain, Ohio where I was raised by my single mother. I am a Biology Major at Baldwin Wallace University where I received an OFIC scholarship through the Nord Family Foundation.

I am so grateful to have received this scholarship. I cannot truly express the gratitude that my family and I have for the Nord family. This scholarship is just the most recent support my family and I have received from the Nord Family.

My mother suffers from clinical depression and requires antidepressant treatment. Five years ago, her doctor made the mistake of completely stopping an antidepressant treatment that was harming her kidneys.

This led to her being consumed by the withdrawal symptoms, but throughout the devastating depression that followed, the Nord Center was imperative to her recovery. It was a dark time for my family, and without the resources available at the Nord Center, it may have ended much worse. The treatment she received there was far above that offered at local hospitals and other institutions.

I am not sure how involved the foundation is with the Nord Center today, but I am thankful to Walter Nord for starting the institution. Today, my mother lives a stable, happy and healthy life. I do not believe I would be where I am today without the support I have received from my mother, and consequently the support the Nord Center gave her during her darkest days.

I want to reiterate how grateful I am for this scholarship. I wish you and OFIC the best and hope it continues to brighten lives, as you have mine.

Where to next?

The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges efficiently solicits financial support from corporations, foundations and other donors and distributes those funds to our member colleges and universities for educational programs, scholarships and collaborative efforts.